What Is Applied Kinesiology?
The combined terms “applied” and “kinesiology” describe the basis of this system, which is the use of manual muscle testing to evaluate body function through the dynamics of the musculoskeletal system. Treatments may involve specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian and acupuncture skills, clinical nutrition, dietary management, counseling skills, evaluating environmental irritants and various reflex procedures.
Want to Learn More About Applied Kinesiology?
Click play below to watch a short documentary on Applied Kinesiology from the International College of Applied Kinesiology.
Does it hurt? No.
Muscle testing is exactly what it sounds like. Dr. Olenek applies light pressure to an arm, a leg, or another muscle group, and you hold against it. That is the whole test. There is nothing forceful about it, nothing invasive, and nothing that should be uncomfortable — and it is how the rest of the visit gets decided.
What follows is matched to you. Treatment may be a standard adjustment, or it may be soft-tissue work, cranial technique, acupressure, or low-force instrument adjusting with an Activator — a small spring-loaded tool that delivers a quick, light impulse with no twisting and no cracking. Dr. Olenek is trained in the Activator Method alongside Diversified, Thompson, McKenzie, and Sacro-Occipital Technique.
If a manual, hands-on adjustment is not something you want, say so at your first visit. There is a gentler route to the same work, and asking for it changes nothing about the quality of your care. More on gentle, low-force adjusting
The Triad of health
The triad of health lists the three basic causes of health problems. They are structural, chemical, and mental, with structure as the base of the triad. Literally, all health problems, whether functional or pathological, are involved with one part or all parts of the triad. This is not new to chiropractic, as its founder, D.D. Palmer states in his text The Science, Art, and Philosophy of Chiropractic, “The determining causes of disease are traumatism, poison, and autosuggestion.” AK enables the doctor to evaluate the triad’s functional balance and direct therapy toward the imbalanced side or sides. The physician who is aware of the triad of health, and evaluates every patient for all three sides, increases his ability to find the basic underlying cause of a patient’s health problem.
